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SFA hands Lennon another ban

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has been handed a six-match touchline ban by the SFA - although half of the punishment is suspended.

Lennon has been handed an immediate ban for confronting referee Euan Norris after his club's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Hearts last month.

Lennon received a six-match ban in total, but half of the punishment is suspended until the end of next season.

But the former Celtic midfielder, who has just served a two-match ban, received no punishment for a further two rule breaches relating to comments made on Twitter hours after the game.

An SFA ruling read: "The judicial panel found Mr Lennon in breach but imposed no further sanction based on the fact he was not responsible for the posting of the actual tweet."

Lennon was found guilty of misconduct by the panel after running on to the pitch to confront Norris over the handball decision that led to Craig Beattie's penalty winner, which came just before Celtic were denied a similar claim.

The tweets in question, which sparked two charges, appeared on Lennon's @OfficialNeil account on the social networking site.

The first read: "Referee told players he thought Wanyama handled... feel so sorry for players and fans..I think it's personal myself."

A comment from a Celtic supporter which suggested the club "pack our bags and get out of this league that is run by crooked SFA officials" was then re-tweeted on the account.

However, it appears the SFA could not prove that Lennon posted the comments himself.

Lennon this week admitted he had been out of order in his Hampden reaction.

The Celtic boss said: "I deeply regret what happened. I will be sending correspondence to the referee as an apology as well.

"It's one actionable thing that I've done that I shouldn't have done.

"I will go to the tribunal and hopefully get a fair hearing as I did the last time and take what's coming."

Lennon added: "It was an instinctive reaction action born out of frustration more than anything else.

"I know I have to conduct myself better than that."

The former Northern Ireland international received his earlier two-match suspension for comments made about referee Willie Collum after Celtic's Scottish Communities League Cup final defeat by Kilmarnock.

what do you think?

4 comments

Jim Cassidy

4:57pm on 3/5/2012

Its time British football in general, and the SFA in particular, were dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century! If managers were allowed to request that incidents were re-examined by reference to video technology these sort of incidents would not happen. One blatant error by an unsighted referee can cost clubs, in the English Premier, hundreds of thousands of pounds, and in the SPL, at least tens of thousands. But clubs are expected to exist in an environment which was created at a time when men came out the pit at 12 noon on a saturday, and played for Rangers or Celtic at 3PM! And were paid a couple of pounds, if they were lucky. AAre these two Football associations so terrified of losing control that they intend to bury their heads in the sand forever? If its good enough for Rugby, cricket and tennis its good enough for football! Dinasaurs out, visionaries in, and the sooner the better.

Score: 1

MarcPayne1

6:19pm on 3/5/2012

Jim, I do agree with your comments regarding video technology but the article is actually about Neil Lennon's conduct and I'm afraid he is simply a thug. Manager's disagree with decisions all the time but it is only Lennon that run's onto the pitch and confronts the Referee. His passion is admirable but he doesn't have the intelligence to control it so shouldn't be a Manager at all. How can you manage players ability and attitudes when you can't manage your own?

Score: 1

John Henderson

10:27pm on 3/5/2012

You just have to look at Lennon to realise that he is hardly the right person to manage Celtic Football Club, in fact any football club for that matter. What a fine example he must be to his players. The ginger hair says it all !!!

Shirley McMaster

6:16am on 4/5/2012

I have watched him on numerous occasions unable to control his temper. They should send him for anger management. Kids attend the games - what example is he setting ? Red cards, spouting on twitter, touchline bans and arguing with refs and other managers.. Always when they're " always cheated, never defeated " .. Sees himself conquer Europe.. Thinks he's as good as Mourinho. He isn't fit to clean his shoes ! Thug. See how good he is when not handed the title on a plate.. I think if not for the fact ppl were jailed for bomb threats towards him he'd be sacked by now! The fan who went for him at the game early last year was acting just like Lennon acts yet that guy was jailed.. The refs show file charges with the police for threatening behaviour...